Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
editor@qctonline.com
The German Christmas Market will return to Old Quebec on Nov. 23 for its 16th edition, filling the streets with the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season. Place D’Youville, the Jardins de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, the newly renovated Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, Rue Sainte- Anne and Place D’Armes will be bustling with more than 90 gift kiosks, food and drink stands and performers for the month-long market.
From Dec. 26 to 31, the Kaleïdoscopes food and performing arts festival will return to the same sites.
Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, the market’s historic heart, has been off limits in recent years due to construction. Organizers are “very happy” to have it once again at their disposal and to set up the market’s trademark wooden Christmas pyramid there, according to Ingrid Lemm, communications director for both the Christmas market and Kaleïdoscopes.
The market will feature a giant decorative ski lift in Place D’Youville made with 3D-printed replicas of historic toys inspired by objects in the collection of the Musée de la civilisation. The ski lift will be turned on during the open- ing ceremony, scheduled for 4 p.m. on Nov. 23. Attendees can expect plenty of mulled wine and a memorable performance by the group Krampus Fantastischer WunderFunk, Lemm said. “They are new performers this year … the Krampus is kind of a German counterweight to Santa; he gives raw potatoes to all the kids who don’t listen to their parents,” she added with a smile. On Nov. 25, a giant mari- onette parade – another new addition to the program – will stream from Place D’Youville to the Basilica-Cathedral Notre-Dame-de-Québec.
In addition to exhibitors selling traditional German food, drinks and gifts, the market will include food tours, mulled wine kits to take home, a puppet theatre, Santa’s castle, arts-and-crafts events, Ravensburger board game nights, electro music, week- end performances by alphorn quartets and visiting German musicians and much more. The full program of events is not available as of this writing, but organizers promise something for everyone.
Lemm attended an early edition of the Christmas market as a recent arrival from Germany. “It started in a church basement on a Sunday and lasted about three hours; then it moved to the courtyard of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and then it just took flight.”
Lemm emphasized that the market is a free event. “Everyone is struggling in these times, but everyone can enjoy the lights and the free activi- ties and bring [themselves] a bit of joy. Times are hard, but we need to bring the joy back.”